Think tank Reform Scotland has issued a report entitled, apparently without irony, “Renewing Local Democracy” in which it argues for reducing to 19 the number of Councils in Scotland. A COSLA spokesman said: “This is a disappointing report in which some of the thinking is woolly and piecemeal. It is also interesting and somewhat odd that a think tank that champions localism is trying to deny councils the opportunity to be truly local”. Meanwhile Local Government Minister, Derek Mackay, has confirmed that there will be no reorganisation of Scottish Local Authorities for the foreseeable future. He stressed that this will allow the Scottish Government and local authorities to concentrate on working collaboratively on public service reform. Some have received positively the report’s suggestions for the transfer of more powers to Community Councils.